Apparatus for a reusable, heated ice cream scoop containing supercoolable salt solution

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for serving ice cream with a chemically-heated ice cream scoop. The scoop comprises a bowl and a handle with an interior cavity filled with a nontoxic, supercoolable salt solution. The salt solution may be selectively crystallized by triggering an activator in fluid communication with the solution. Crystallization evolves a significant amount of heat that is used to elevate the temperature of the scoop bowl, thereby decreasing the cutting force required to separate a serving of ice cream from a storage container and reducing adherence of the ice cream within the scoop bowl. After use, the scoop may be recharged by elevating the temperature of the crystallized solution above its crystallization temperature. The process of crystallization, melting, and supercooling may be repeated indefinitely.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. Apparatus for serving ice cream comprising: 
       a scoop handle having an interior cavity;  
       a scoop bowl comprising a cutting surface, the scoop bowl affixed to the scoop handle and in communication with the interior cavity;  
       a supercoolable salt solution disposed within a cartridge adapted to be removably inserted into the interior cavity; and  
       an activator operably coupled to the salt solution to initiate crystallization of the solution when the salt is supercooled,  
       wherein the salt solution crystallizes at a temperature in the range of about 110-130° Fahrenheit.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the scoop handle comprises a polymer. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the scoop bowl comprises a metal. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the portion of the scoop bowl in communication with the interior cavity is coated with a material compatible with the salt solution. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the activator is sealed within the cartridge. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a mechanism for triggering the activator from outside the cartridge. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the activator comprises a disk activator. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a metallic strip in communication with both the cutting surface of the scoop bowl and the cavity. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the scoop bowl further comprises a non-stick coating. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the non-stick coating is fabricated from polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the supercoolable salt solution comprises a supercoolable sodium acetate solution. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus for serving ice cream comprising: 
       a scoop handle having an interior cavity;  
       a scoop bowl affixed to the scoop handle and in communication with the interior cavity;  
       a supercoolable sodium acetate solution disposed within a cartridge adapted to be removably inserted into the interior cavity; and  
       an activator operably coupled to the sodium acetate solution.  
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the portion of the scoop bowl in communication with the interior cavity is coated with a material compatible with the sodium acetate solution. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claimed  12 , wherein the activator is sealed within the cartridge for initiating crystallization of the solution when said solution is supercooled. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a mechanism for triggering the activator from outside the cartridge. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the scoop bowl further comprises a non-stick coating. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the scoop bowl comprises a material chosen from a group consisting of aluminum and stainless steel. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the scoop handle comprises a material chosen from a group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polycarbonate. 
     
     
       19. Apparatus for serving ice cream comprising: 
       a scoop handle having an interior cavity;  
       a scoop bowl comprising a cutting surface, the scoop bowl affixed to the scoop handle and in communication with the interior cavity;  
       a supercoolable salt solution disposed within a cartridge adapted to be removably inserted into the interior cavity; and  
       an activator operably coupled to the salt solution to initiate crystallization of the solution when the salt is supercooled.  
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the salt solution crystallizes at a temperature in the range of about 110-130° Fahrenheit. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the supercoolable salt solution comprises a supercoolable sodium acetate solution.